And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.

Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming ˹aspect˺ of the punishment of Allah or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."

وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةࣲ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ

أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَٰشِيَةࣱ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةࣰ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

قُلْ هَٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِيٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِيۖ وَسُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

And We sent not before you ˹as messengers˺ except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah; then will you not reason?

˹They continued˺ until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالࣰا نُّوحِيٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرࣱ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَآءُۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةࣱ لِّأُو۟لِي ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثࣰا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءࣲ وَهُدࣰى وَرَحْمَةࣰ لِّقَوْمࣲ يُؤْمِنُونَ